CCIDE>NT 


3AFE.TY  FIRST 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2007  with  funding  from 

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http://www.archive.org/details/accidentpreventiOOunitrich 


ACCIDENT    PREVENTION 

An  amplified  revision  of  an  illustrated  talk  on  Accident 

Prevention  in  Certain  Public  Utilities,  presented  at 

the  Public  Policy  Meeting  of  the  Thirty -Sixth 

Annual  Convention  of  the  National  Electric 

Light  Association,  Chicago,  June  4th, 

1913. 


SAFETY    FI  RST 


)  > .  J ,  J »  ■» 

J       'j'.    JO       J* 


Th  e    United    Gas    Improvement    Company 
Philadelphia 


COPYRIGHT     1913 

BY 

The   United   Gas   Improvement   Company 


CONTENTS 

General Page  11 

Illustrations Pages  16  to  96 

Causes  of  Accidents Page  98 

Effects  of  Accidents     .        .        .        .        .        .        .     Page  99 

First  Aid  Equipment Page  105 


281725 


PREFATORY 

SO  MUCH  is  being  said  and  done  nowadays  in  the 
interest  of  safety,  that  I  cannot  expect  to  bring 
forward  any  particularly  new  features,  but  must 
rest  satisfied  in  the  hope  that  the  illustrations  shown 
herein,  together  with  the  comments  on  the  conditions 
and  hazards,  may  stimulate,  and  help  to  continue,  the 
interest  of  the  gas  and  electric  industries  especially,  in 
this  important  cause. 

Workmen's  compensation  laws  are  now  in  operation 
in  many  of  our  States.  Twenty-six  either  have  these 
laws  in  operation  or  their  preliminary  bills  pending,  and 
to  this  fact  much  of  the  progress  in  accident  prevention 
is  actually  due, — because  every  law  or  bill  provides  for 
compensation  to  an  injured  employe  regardless  of 
the  person  at  fault.  In  addition  to  the  good  done 
by  these  laws  in  the  prevention  field,  they  also 
mean  a  welcome  decrease  in  misunderstanding  and 
litigation  between  employer  and  employe,  as  the 
schedules  of  compensation  are  specific  and  automatic. 

As  a  rule,  it  may  be  said  that  it  is  not  the  failure  of 
machinery  or  apparatus  that  swells  the  accident  total, 
nor  is  it  the  obscure  electrical  or  mechanical  hazard, 
but  it  is  the  seemingly  endless  number  of  simple  and 
apparently  trivial  hazards  or  practices,  easily  recognized 
by  one  not  daily  on  the  premises,  that  causes  the  most 
suffering  and  loss. 

First  Aid  is  important  in  its  place,  but  treatment  of 
this  character  should  not  be  allowed  to  overshadow  the 
vastly  more  important  work  of  Accident  Prevention. 


Thorough  preventive  measures  will  make  first  aid 
unnecessary. 

In  spite  of  the  constant  endeavors  of  workers  in  this 
field  to  bring  the  subject  of  safety  effectively  before 
employes  by  means  of  talks  and  demonstrations,  the 
difficulty  seems  to  have  been  to  draw  it  to  their  atten- 
tion in  forms  which  they  can  understand  and  readily 
use,  and  it  is  this  need  that  this  little  book  is,  in  a 
measure,  intended  to  fill.  Although  the  book  has  been 
designed  for  the  use  of  superintendents,  the  nature  of 
the  conditions  to  which  attention  is  drawn  is  such  that 
the  illustrations  should  prove  of  value  to  foremen  and 
employes  in  general,  who,  it  is  hoped,  will  thoroughly 
familiarize  themselves  with  the  hazards  indicated,  in 
order  that  they  may  promptly  recognize  any  similar 
hazards  within  their  own  territory. 

The  illustrations  are  taken  from  a  collection  used  in 
the  form  of  lantern  slides,  which  have  been  found,  along 
with  motion  pictures,  to  be  the  best  way  to  bring  the 
various  risks  impressively  home  to  employes. 

While  we  all,  of  course,  desire  to  prevent  accidents 
from  a 

HUMANITARIAN  VIEWPOINT, 

the  consideration  being  an  economical  one  as  well,  we 
should  ever  bear  in  mind  that  an  accident  avoided  means 

MONEY  SAVED, 

EFFICIENCY  UNDISTURBED, 

PRODUCTION  UNINTERRUPTED. 


James  B.  Douglas. 
Philadelphia,  July,  1913. 

6 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

Description  Page 

Safety  League  Placard 16 

Pipe  Marking  Oxide  Bed 17 

Bars  on  Operating  Floor       .       ,'^ 18 

Bar  Rack 19 

Testing  Lead  Wires  in  Passageway 20 

Projecting  Valve  Stem 21 

Wiping  Moving  Pulley 22 

Ordinary  and  Scored  Hammer  Heads     ....  23 

Coal  Buckets  with  Hooks 24 

Frequency  Changer  Set 25 

Buckled  Sheet  Iron  in  Passageway 26 

Same 27 

Signs  on  Switchboard 28 

Tar  Separator  Wells 29 

Rubber  Gloves  and  Safety  Shields 30 

Common  and  Insulated  Screw  Drivers         .        .        .  31 
Mushroomed  Sledge  with  Split  Handle  .        .        .        .32 

Head  Gears  of  Lathe 33 

Brick  and  Conduit  on  Ledge  of  Wall      ....  34 

Glassware  on  Shelves        .        .        .        .        .        .        .  35 

Sledges  on  Bins 36 

Elevator  Foot  Guard  Plate 37 

Copings  Around  Openings  in  Floor 3S 

Same 39 

Loose  Floor  Plate 40 

Standard  Portable  Barricade 41 

Ladders  on  Truck 42 

Same 43 

Coal  Hopper  on  Trestle 44 

7 


Description  Page 

Low  Guy  Wire 45 

Low  Arc-Lamp  Wires 46 

Ornaments  Over  Doorway 47 

Climbing  Ladder 48 

Safe  Method  of  Climbing  Ladder 49 

Coal  on  Trestle-work 50 

Leaning  Clinker-Bars,  etc 51 

Conveyor  and  Crusher 52 

Same,  Guarded 53 

Fire-reel  Box  and  Handle .54 

Exposed  Handle  on  Well  Cover 55 

Flat-top  Clothes-Locker 56 

Sloping-top  Clothes-Locker 57 

Leaning  Bars,  etc 58 

Subway  Hangers  over  Passageway        ....  59 
Circular  Saw     .        .        .        .        .        .        ...        .60 

Same,  Guarded 61 

Shovel,  Rake  and  Oil-can  Hazards 62 

Emery- Wheel  and  Switch 63 

Emery- Wheel,  Guarded 64 

Loose  Bricks  over  Doorway     ......  65 

Steam  Outlet  in  Front  of  Boiler 66 

Projecting  Nails 67 

Elevator  Counterweights    .        .        .        .        .        .        .68 

Same,  Guarded 69 

Manhole  Cover  with  Ring  Lift         .        ....  70 

Wheelbarrows  Stored  Carelessly         ....  71 

Ell  Projecting  from  Tank 72 

Passenger  Elevator  Gate  Finger  Guard     ...  73 

Portable  Station  Platform  .......  74 

Articles  on  Ledges  in  Elevator  Shaft        ...  75 


Description  Page 

Gate  Swinging  out  over  Footway 76 

Same 77 

Entrance  Gate  to  Yard 78 

Exhaust  Pipe  along  Passageway 79 

Telegraph  Pole  with  Low  Steps 80 

Exposed  Sash  Weights 81 

Iron  Stakes  in  Yard 82 

Guarded  Exits  to  Buildings  Adjoining  Tracks         .  83 

Band  Saw  Incompletely  Guarded 84 

Exhaust  Fan  in  Storeroom 85 

Elevator  Gate  in  Generator  House         ....  86 

Same 87 

Generator  Lid  .        .       . 88 

Same,  Improved      .        .  '      .        .        .        .        .        .        .  89 

Desk  Paper-weights 90 

Prevention  Notice  to  Employes 91 

Boiler-room  Door  Guide 92 

Same,  Improved 93 

Gas  Drip  Box  above  Footway      .        .        .        .        .        .94 

Sheave-Wheel  Guard  Plate  on  Elevator    ...  95 

Accident  Prevention  Stamps 96 

Precautions  for  Men  Working  in  Boilers          .        .  97 

First  Aid 

Wall  Cabinet 106 

Gas  Kit 107 

*       Pocket  Kit 107 

Electric  Kit 108 

Books  and  Charts 109 

pulmotor 110 

9 


GENERAL  _;;Sj^U''v};>-i\h  A 

INHERENT  in  all  men  is  a  tendency  to  carelessness 
which,  in  many  hazardous  occupations,  reaches 
a  point  where  familiarity  with  the  risk  occasions 
a  sort  of  contempt  that  only  too  often  results  dis- 
astrously. 

When  thought  is  given  to  the  innumerable  activities 
of  everyday  life,  it  is  remarkable  how  little  the  average 
man  seems  to  think  or  care  about  the  hazards  sur- 
rounding him  on  every  side.  As  a  rule  he  does  not  see 
how  they  can  affect  him.  Even  where  a  man  has  wit- 
nessed an  accident  due  to  carelessness,  the  lesson  is 
shortlived  at  best.  He  may  have  his  own  ideas  as 
to  who  or  what  was  to  blame  for  the  mishap,  and, 
thinking  that  he  will  not  repeat  the  mistake,  becomes 
possessed  by  a  feeling  of  security  and  self-sufficiency 
which  at  times  results  in  the  happening  of  the  very 
accident  for  which  he  should  have  been  prepared 
through  the  experience  of  his  fellow-man. 

Merely  telling  workmen  to  be  careful  and  to  take 
advantage  of  the  safety  devices  provided  will  by  itself 
accomplish  but  little  in  the  way  of  preventing  acci- 
dents. Warnings  too  often  repeated  and  insufficiently 
varied,  lose  much  of  their  effectiveness,  no  matter  how 
attractively  worded,  but  in  using  the  experience  of 
others  and  applying  the  lesson  directly,  the  workmen 
become  awakened  to  the  fact  that  they  are  the  greatest 
losers  through  preventable  accidents. 

It  is  said  that  a  burnt  child  dreads  fire,  but  it  seems 
absurd  for  a  man  to  wait  for  an  accident  to  happen  to 
him  before  he  takes  measures  against  its  recurrence.  A 
man  differs  from  a  child  in  that  his  mind  is  developed  to 

11 


s,u'cJ>';^!'p;oirit  that  he  should  profit  by  the  mistakes  of 
others  without  the  necessity  of  personal  experience 
entering  into  the  question. 

It  is  clear  therefore  that  the  great  desideratum  in  ac- 
cident prevention  is  that  of  educating  the  employes  to 
be  alive  to  the  danger  surrounding  them,  and  to  take 
care  of  themselves — to  be  careful.  The  very  nature  of 
the  struggle  for  the  survival  of  the  fittest  arouses  in  men 
a  selfishness  of  which  full  advantage  must  be  taken  in 
order  that  the  desired  results  in  accident  prevention 
may  be  achieved.  Taking  any  given  number  of 
hazards,  a  certain  proportion  will  without  fail  result 
unfavorably  to  the  man  taking  the  chances.  The  odds 
from  the  outset  being  against  the  man  who  puts  himself 
in  a  position  where  there  is  a  liability  of  injury,  no  one 
can  afTord  to  take  the  risk. 

It  has  been  well  said  that  Accident  Prevention  Saves 
Misery  and  Money.  Until  within  the  last  few  years 
this  twofold  saving  has  not  been  appreciated,  and  in 
striving  to  increase  outputs  and  sales,  the  avoidance  of 
accidents  has  been  overlooked  as  one  of  the  factors 
reducing  the  cost  of  operation.  Employers  at  times 
have  been  slow  to  awaken  to  the  fact  that  most  of  the 
many  simple  accidents  could  have  been  avoided,  and 
have  not  seemed  to  consider  seriously  the  great  double 
saving  to  be  effected  through  prevention.  As  has  been 
indicated,  efforts  have  been  directed  mostly  towards 
reducing  costs  and  increasing  sales,  with  little,  and  at 
times,  apparently,  no  regard  for  the  saving  coincident 
with  intelligently  directed  work  in  the  prevention  field. 
It  surely  pays  to  concentrate  on  prevention;  the  safe 
way  is  the  progressive  way  of  protecting  both  employe 

12 


and  employer.  A  catastrophe  avoided  may  mean  lives 
saved  and  receiverships  averted. 

An  accident  removes  from  his  place,  for  the  time 
being,  the  man  his  employer  considers  most  capable  in 
the  line  of  work  at  which  he  is  engaged.  If  it  were  not 
so,  this  man  would  not  be  holding  his  position. 
Through  an  injury  the  employer  loses  his  services,  and 
must  replace  him,  temporarily  at  least,  with  a  man 
lacking  his  experience  and  those  qualities  which  earned 
him  his  place.  Such  an  interruption  cannot  fail  to 
show  its  effect  on  the  efficiency  of  the  plant;  it  disturbs 
the  productive  power  and  brings  suffering  into  the 
family  of  the  injured. 

From  any  viewpoint,  leaving  out  of  consideration  the 
humanitarian  aspect  of  the  question,  the  industrial  loss 
is  such  as  to  warrant  the  most  thorough  precautions  to 
prevent  accidents,  not  only  on  the  part  of  the  employer, 
but  of  his  employes  as  well.  Accident  prevention 
assures  each  workman  that  his  normal  industrial  lon- 
gevity will  not  be  curtailed  through  the  medium  of 
preventable  accidents. 

To  accomplish  this  result,  the  whole-hearted  co-opera- 
tion of  employer  and  employes  is  necessary.  The 
welfare  and  freedom  of  mind  that  follow  the  thoughtful 
and  careful  attention  paid  by  employer  and  employes 
to  the  prevention  of  accidents,  to  a  large  extent  deter- 
mine the  efficiency  of  the  working  force  of  a  plant.  The 
employer  should  give  every  consideration  to  suggestions 
that  might  improve  the  working  conditions,  while  on 
the  other  hand  every  employe  should  consider  himself 
an  inspector  for  his  employer  in  the  line  of  work  at 
which  he  is  engaged.     He  should  feel  it  his  duty  to 

13 


report  to  his  superiors  any  defect  in  materials,  methods 
or  men  that  may  come  to  his  attention.  Every  work- 
man should  realize  that  his  own  freedom  from  injury 
depends  on  the  care  exercised  by  him  and  his  fellow 
employes,  and  that  their  safety  mostly  rests  with 
themselves. 

It  has  been  variously  estimated  that  from  30%  to 
50%  of  industrial  accidents  are  preventable.  Certain 
lines  of  endeavor  include  operations  from  which  danger 
can  never  be  entirely  eliminated,  but  in  all  cases,  care- 
fulness brings  its  own  reward  in  a  marked  decrease  in 
the  number  of  accidents,  and  in  a  reduction  of  the 
seriousness  of  such  as  may  not  altogether  be  avoided. 

Preventable  accidents  may  be  classified  under  the 
following  heads: 

First:       Use  of  a  wrong  method  by  the  workman. 

Second:  Carelessness  by  the  workman  of  his  own 
safety  and  that  of  his  fellow  employes. 

Third:  Defective  or  unguarded  machinery,  tools, 
appliances,  etc. 

By  far  the  largest  number  of  accidents  falls  into  the 
first  two  classes.  Only  care  on  the  part  of  the  workmen 
as  a  class  will  reduce  the  number  of  accidents  due  to 
these  causes.  The  suffering  and  loss  of  time  caused  by 
accidents  surely  warrant  the  exercise  of  the  greatest 
degree  of  care  on  the  part  of  the  men  in  the  prosecution 
of  their  work,  and  call  for  their  heartiest  co-operation 
with  their  employers  in  the  endeavor  to  prevent,  and 
to  reduce  the  number  of,  accidents. 

The  following  illustrations  of  conditions,  which 
actually  have,  or  at  any  time  might  have,  caused 
serious    accidents,    have    been    secured    from    various 

14 


widely  scattered  sources,  and  many  of  them  have 
formed  the  basis  of  several  talks  on  Safety  and  Accident 
Prevention  Work. 

Doubtless  each  reader  can,  from  his  own  experience, 
recall  at  least  one  instance  of  sad  loss  and  heavy  cost 
due  to  accident.  When  it  is  realized  that  this  loss 
might  have  been  avoided,  we  find  ourselves  among 
those  anxious  to  seize  the  first  opportunity  to  join  in 
and  throw  telling  efforts  into  the  great  and  good  cause 
of  Prevention. 


15 


Weatherproof  cardboard  sign  for  display  around   works  and 
station  yards. 

A  similar  impression  is  made  on  pay  envelopes. 


16 


lii^^HP^ 

[ 

H^^r^^H 

1 

f™ 

1 

A  simple  hazard  which  resulted  in  a  fractured  foot  is  shown 
here.  It  consists  of  a  short  section  of  bent  pipe  which  may  have 
been  placed  at  one  time  to  mark  the  limit  of  an  oxide  bed.  In 
this  instance  an  employe's  foot  was  caught  and  injured  in  the 
manner  shown. 

The  remedy  is  obvious. 


17 


This  picture  was  taken  to  show  how  employes  trip  over  tools 
lying  on  operating  floors. 


18 


A    home-made    rack    on    which   tools   may   be   kept    when 
not  in  use. 


19 


Testing  lead  wires  found  in  a  passageway  back  of  oil  switches. 
It  merely  illustrates  a  tripping  hazard  in  a  bad  place.  Hazards 
of  a  somewhat  similar  nature  may  be  found  in  many  offices  where 
connecting  cords  of  electric  fans,  or  of  adding,  or  dictating 
machines  are  left  lying  on  floors  and  across  passageways. 


20 


An  ugly  hazard.  As  will  be  noted,  the  valve  stem  is  at 
eye-level.  The  workman  was  photographed  in  the  act  of  passing 
down  stairs.  His  right  foot  is  on  the  landing  of  the  stairs,  which 
he  is  facing,  and  which  are  not  shown  in  the  picture. 


21 


Illustration  of  a  most  dangerous  practice.  The  engineer  was 
actually  seen  as  shown,  wiping  the  face  of  a  pulley  carrying  a 
large  belt  from  an  engine  to  a  blower,  while  the  belt  was  running 
at  high  speed.  It  Avill  be  noted  how  a  mere  slip,  or  the  catching 
of  a  strand  of  waste  in  the  running  belt,  might  carry  the 
employe's  hand  around  the  pulley,  and  cause  the  instant  loss  of 
an  arm,  if  not  of  a  life.  Fortunately,  this  hazard  was  recognized 
before  an  accident  occurred. 

The  frightful  possibilities  of  this  practice  are  clear.  Guards 
were  placed  around  the  belt,  and  instructions  issued  not  to  touch 
any  pulleys  or  belts  while  in  motion. 


22 


Two  types  of  hammers;  the  ordinary  carpenter's,  and  the 
newer  style  with  scored  face. 

The  statement  has  been  made  by  one  company  that  during  a 
period  of  nine  months,  four  workmen  lost  an  eye  each,  due  to 
nails  flying  when  struck  on  a  slant  by  the  ordinary  smooth-faced 
carpenter's  hammer  in  rough  work,  and  that  since  adopting  the 
indented -head  style,  the  hazard  has  practically  been  eliminated. 


23 


One  of  the  coal  buckets  shown  here  figured  in  an  unusual 
accident.  Just  as  the  bucket  was  being  hoisted,  the  glove  of  an 
employe  endeavoring  to  guide  it,  became  caught  in  the  hook. 
Some  distance  from  the  ground,  the  glove  broke  and  the  man 
fell,  sustaining  premanent  injuries. 

^  J  A  recurrence  of  this  accident  was  avoided  by  extending  the 
release  bars  straight  downward,  doing  away  with  the  hooks. 


24 


Guard  on  a  frequency-changer  set.  Note  the  rail  installed  to 
prevent  employes  being  caught  in  the  moving  parts,  or  slipping 
through  the  opening  in  the  bed  plate  while  adjusting  brushes, 
wiping  collector  rings,  or  feeling  bearings.  It  will  also  be 
observed  that  the  step  on  which  the  employe  stands  furnishes  a 
firm  place  for  his  feet,  which  otherwise  would  rest  on  the  curved 
and  slippery  surface  of  the  pedestal. 


25 


At  times  sections  of  tin  or  corrugated  iron  are  used  to  cover 
small  openings  and  depressions  in  yards.  As  shown,  these  strips 
in  time  become  buckled  and  raised  at  the  edges,  thereby  present- 
ing a  mean  hazard,  particularly  where  employes  are  engaged  in 
night  work.  If  the  obstruction  is  low,  tripping  may  result  only 
in  a  fall. 


26 


A  hazard  similar  to  the  preceding  one,  except  that  in  the  case 
here  illustrated,  the  iron  being  raised  higher,  the  danger  of  a 
lacerated  and  infected  wound,  if  not  of  a  broken  leg  or  arm,  is 
more  imminent. 


27 


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MEWM 

ii:ii:pPMnM 

1  _§    i>           1^   &  i  iHl 

Fi^ 

f                                                   ;                                                               1 

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'"'"''^™MiMi^^ 

On  this  switchboard  are  shown  cards  of  warning,  hung  on 
several  switches.     The  cards  read 

DANGER 
Do  not  throw  switch;   men  working  on  circuit. 

This  precautionary  measure  has  doubtless  saved  many  lives. 


28 


Picture  taken  to  show  the  occasion  for  a  guard  within  a  guard 
at  times.  In  this  instance,  an  employe  came  out  of  the  building 
on  which  the  lamp  is  located,  holding,  and  looking  at,  a  chisel  he 
was  about  to  sharpen,  and  inadvertently  walked  through  the 
gateway,  which  had  negligently  been  left  open.  Before  he 
realized  where  he  was,  he  had  stepped  into  the  tar  separator  well 
shown  in  the  corner  of  the  enclosure,  and  had  been  scalded  in 
the  hot  water  before  relief  arrived. 

As  shown,  both  wells  are  now  fully  guarded. 


29 


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An  illustration  of  the  use  of  rubber  gloves  and  safety  shields 
by  a  lineman  working  among  many  wires  on  a  corner  pole. 

Lack  of  these  precautions  has  resulted  in  loss  of  life,  and  the 
use  of  these  safeguards  should  be  made  mandatory  in  work  of 
this  character. 


30 


Common,  and  insulated,  types  of  screw  drivers.  The  insu- 
lation is  said  to  be  tested  to  withstand  11,000  volts,  which  should 
practically  remove  the  danger  incident  to  the  use  of  the  common 
type  of  screw  driver  around  electric  connections. 

Several  cases  in  which  employes'  eyes  were  seriously  burned  by 
flashes  due  to  short  circuits,  were  caused  by  the  slipping  of 
ordinary  screw  drivers  while  working  around  switchboards. 


31 


A  sledge  found  in  actual  use.  A  badly  mushroomed  head  will 
be  noted,  in  addition  to  the  splintered  handle.  Such  tools  are 
extremely  dangerous,  not  only  to  those  using  them,  but  to 
persons  near  by,  and  the  possibility  of  the  handle  breaking  and 
permitting  the  head  to  fly  and  do  injury,  is  made  even  worse  by 
the  presence  of  the  mushroomed  head.  It  is  from  sledges  and 
hammers  of  this  sort  that  pieces  of  steel  break  off  and  cause 
eye  injuries. 


32 


A  simple  guard  for  the  head  gears  of  a  lathe,  which  can  easily 
be  made  at  home  at  little  cost.  It  has  proven  quite  satisfactory 
in  use,  and  is  another  illustration  of  the  fact  that,  as  a  general 
rule,  the  safety  of  employes  adds  little,  if  anything,  to  the  cost 
of  operation,  while  the  saving  coincident  with  accident  preven- 
tion yields  a  splendid  return  on  the  investment  in  these  devices. 


33 


A  piece  of  terra  cotta  conduit,  and  several  bricks,  left  for  some 
unaccountable  reason  on  a  ledge  of  the  wall  of  a  building. 

The  removal  of  material  placed  in  such  positions  carries  away 
just  one  more  hazard. 


34 


Glassware  stored  on  the  shelving  without  ledges  or  copings  to 
keep  it  from  falling  and  breaking.  While  there  is  little  danger 
of  an  employe  being  injured  by  a  fall  of  the  glassware,  serious 
injuries  have  followed  in  cases  where  they  have  stepped  on 
broken  glass. 

Ledges  or  coping  on  shelves  of  this  character  will  reduce  this 
hazard  to  a  minimum. 


35 


In  another  store  room  were  found  heavy  sledges  on  top  of 
bins  ten  feet  from  the  floor,  which  was  caused  to  vibrate  con- 
stantly by  machinery. 

On  the  right  will  be  noticed  several  projecting  chisels  which 
could  easily  be  pushed  back,  and  so  stored  that  there  would  be 
no  danger  of  the  head  of  a  passing  employe  striking  them. 

Constant  supervision  to  see  that  materials,  tools,  etc.,  are 
stored  properly  is  the  solution  of  these  prominent  store-room 
hazards. 


36 


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! 

1 
1 

Sketch  of  a  very  simple  device  for  preventing  serious  injuries 
to  employes  operating  elevators.  The  guard  plate  engages  the 
operator's  foot,  and  either  returns  it  to  the  platform  of  the 
ascending  elevator,  or  gives  him  sufficient  warning  to  withdraw  it 
himself,  and  thus  prevents  crushing. 

Grievous  injuries  have  been  sustained  where  this  hazard  has 
not  been  taken  care  of. 


37 


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An  operating  floor  in  a  station  in  which  the  openings  around 
the  turbines,  head  of  stairway,  and  side  of  floor  are  guarded  by 
angle- iron  ledges.  It  is  surely  a  comparatively  inexpensive  pre- 
caution that  doubtless  has  saved  employes  working  on  the  floor 
below  from  being  injured  by  falling  tools,  etc. 

A  recent  case  in  which  a  brick  falling  from  an  operating  floor 
was  intercepted  by  the  head  of  an  employe,  resulting  in  insanity, 
calls  the  hazard  forcibly  to  mind. 


38 


I 


Another  illustration  of  metal  strips  along  the  edges  of  the 
floor  of  a  gallery,  to  prevent  tools  or  whatever  may  be  on  the 
floor,  from  falling  off  and  injuring  persons  below.  It  will  be^seen 
how  the  bar,  which  was  photographed  just  as  found,  is  retained 
in*place  by  the  strip  or  ledge. 


39 


Illustration  showing  a  loose  plate  on  an  operating  floor. 
Some  time  ago,  a  workman,  as  the  result  of  stepping  on  a  wobbly 
plate,  dropped  to  the  floor  below,  where  the  plate  itself  fell  upon 
him,  causing  fatal  injuries. 

Floor  plates  should,  of  course,  be  inspected  regularly  to  see 
that  they  are  in  good  condition  and  bearing  evenly. 


40 


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A  standard  type  of  portable  barricade  for  street  work.  The 
danger  signs,  and  also  the  red  lamps  for  night  use,  are  so  placed 
as  to  be  readily  seen,  not  being  obscured  by  service  carts  or 
material. 


41 


Here  is  illustrated  the  very  common  practice  of  carrying  a 
ladder  with  the  end  extending  well  out  from  the  rear  of  the 
vehicle.     Pipes,  bars,  etc.,  are  similarly  carried. 

This  practice  has  resulted  in  serious  injuries  to  pedestrians 
who  were  struck  by  the  projections  as  the  wagons  turned  corners. 


42 


An  easy  change  in  the  placing  of  the  ladder,  making  accidents 
of  this  sort  impossible.  Having  the  overhang  of  the  ladder  in 
front  instead  of  the  rear,  causes  little,  if  any,  inconvenience  to 
the  driver.  Although  the  picture  shows  an  automobile,  the 
same  arrangement  can  be  made  as  readily  on  a  wagon. 


43 


A  coal  hopper  into  which  cars  discharge  directly,  and  at  the 
bottom  of  which  is  a  short  belt  leading  to  a  crusher.  The  hopper 
is  located  on  a  trestle,  on  which  employes  are  numerous  at  times. 

The  bars,  so  spaced  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  discharge  of 
coal,  were  placed  to  prevent  persons  falling  into  the  hopper,  or  to 
give  them  a  chance  to  recover  themselves  quickly  should  they  fall. 


44 


This  illustrates  the  cause  of  a  rather  unusual  accident.  The 
lower  end  of  the  guy  wire  running  from  the  lighting  pole  to  the 
telephone  pole,  as  shown,  is  but  12  feet  above  the  roadway. 

It  remained  at  this  height  for  some  time  without  doing  damage 
or  being  noticed,  until  it  finally  swept  a  driver  off  his  wagon  and 
injured  him  severely. 


45 


A  somewhat  similar  condition.  This  shows  a  lamp  suspended 
from  a  guy  running  from  pole  to  pole.  The  leaning  of  the  pole 
has  lowered  the  position  of  the  lamp,  which,  as  a  matter  of  fact, 
hangs  over  the  centre  of  the  roadway.  The  wires,  which  carried 
approximately  4000  volts,  were  about  eleven  feet  above  the 
roadway,  in  position  to  shock  a  man  or  pull  him  off  a  wagon. 

The  condition  suggests  mast-arm  construction. 


46 


Iron  ornaments  at  sides  of  porch.  Employes  entering  the 
building  in  a  hurry  formerly  took  the  short  cut  over  the  side  of 
the  porch  and  in  several  instances  injured  their  heads  in  the 
manner  illustrated.  An  accident  of  this  sort  involving  a  ''paper 
shell"  skull  would  not  be  unlikely  to  terminate  fatally. 

As  indicated  by  the  dotted  lines,  the  railing  forces  the 
employes  to  enter  at  the  front  of  the  porch. 


47 


In  many  yards,  ladders  made  simply  of  a  pair  of  "two  by 
threes"  with  cross  strips  nailed  on  as  rungs,  are  in  common  use. 
The  one  shown,  with  the  rungs  set  in  and  nailed,  is  probably  as 
safe  as  a  ladder  of  this  kind  can  be  made,  but  in  climbing  it  in 
the  manner  shown,  the  workman  has  pulled  a  weak  rung  and 
is  in  danger  of  a  nasty  fall. 

The  use  of  ladders  in  which  the  rungs  are  mortised  into  the 
standards,  instead  of  being  nailed  on  as  shown,  is  advocated  as 
eliminating  entirely  the  danger  of  a  rung  pulling  out. 


48 


The  safe  method  of  climbing  ladders.  With  the  hands 
grasping  the  standards  of  the  ladder  illustrated,  there  is  no  dan- 
ger of  the  rungs  pulling  out  and  throwing  the  workman.  This 
■and  the  preceding  photograph  were  taken  near  a  coal  wharf, 
and  it  will  be  noticed  that  the  workman  is  alive  to  more  than 
one  phase  of  the  safety  question.  He  wears  goggles  to  avoid 
the  danger  accompanying  flying  coal  dust  and  grit. 


49 


An  ordinary  coal  trestle  over  which  is  drawn  a  train  of  loaded 
cars.  A  little  further  to  the  right,  the  trestle  runs  over  a  busy 
public  highway.  It  will  be  noted  that  several  large  pieces  of  coal 
have  dropped  from  the  cars  to  the  edges  of  the  trestle  work  and 
are  liable  to  fall  on  the  workmen  below. 

This  hazard  can  be  overcome  only  by  constant  watchfulness, 
to  see  that  the  cars  are  not  overloaded,  and  that  the  trestle  and 
platforms  are  kept  clear. 


50 


Hazard  accompanying  the  standing  of  clinker  bars,  etc., 
against  walls,  pipes,  or  in  similar  locations.  This  workman  was 
injured  by  a  bar  falling  from  the  position  shown. 

If  these  tools  are  not  placed  in  racks,  it  is  well  to  lay  them  flat, 
close  to  walls,  where  they  will  not  cause  persons  to  trip,  or  to 
stand  them  between  short  guide  bars  extending  out  from  the 
wall,  well  above  the  floor,  to  prevent  sliding  and  falling. 


51 


A  conveyor  and  crusher  beside  a  gas  house.  It  will  be 
noticed  that,  on  the  side  of  the  boxed-in  conveyor,  there  is  a 
ladder,  used  at  times  while  the  crusher  is  in  operation.  The 
hopper  directing  fuel  into  the  crusher  is  immediately  under  the 
ladder  and,  as  shown,  no  guard  is  provided  to  prevent  a  person 
falling  directly  into  the  moving  crusher  rolls,  should  he  slip  from 
the  ladder. 

Although  guard  rails  are  in  place  to  prevent  a  fall  from  the  top 
platform,  the  hazard  presented  by  exposed  gearing  has  been 
overlooked. 


52 


A  guard,  or  shield,  platform  (indicated  by  the  white  line  at  the 
top  of  the  hopper)  to  prevent  a  person,  should  he  slip  off  the 
ladder,  from  falling  into  the  hopper.  The  gearing,  indicated 
by  the  arrow,  has  been  enclosed. 

An  employe  while  working  around  the  hopper  of  another 
crusher,  in  some  way  got  his  arm  caught  in  the  rolls,  and  sus- 
tained permanent  injury. 


53 


At  times  more  thought  has  been  given  to  the  subject  of  fire 
protection  than  to  accident  prevention.  The  contrast  is  here 
shown  strikingly.  The  box  covering  the  fire  hose  is  so  located 
that  the  streams  covered  the  maximum  number  of  buildings, 
and  the  hose  was  carefully  enclosed,  but  the  reel  handle  pro- 
jected over  the  footway  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render  serious 
injury  to  a  passerby  imminent,  particularly  at  night. 

The  hazard  was  disposed  of  by  disconnecting,  and  hanging 
the  handle  under  the  box. 


54 


An  exposed  handle  on  the  cover  of  a  well,  illustrating  how 
easily  an  accident  might  occur.  Under  the  circumstances,  a 
fractured  foot  or  kneecap  is  imminent. 

It  is,  of  course,  a  matter  of  no  expense  to  countersink  the 
cover  so  that  the  handle  will  drop  into,  or  fall  flat  with,  the  lid 
when  not  in  use. 


55 


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1 

piai; 

1 

1 
J 

In  many  works  and  stations,  flat-top,  steel  clothes  lockers  are 
in  common  use.  Invariably  it  has  been  found  that  the  tops  are 
used  as  storage  places  for  various  kinds  of  junk.  The  jar  inci- 
dent to  the  opening  and  closing  of  the  locker  doors  is  liable  to 
cause  the  articles  to  fall  on  the  workman  using  the  closet. 
Objects  falling  from  such  positions  have  caused  many  injuries. 

One  hazard  inspection  disclosed  a  heavy  double-edged  fire  axe, 
lying  on  top  of  a  locker  of  this  kind,  in  danger  of  falling  on  an 
employe. 


56 


A  locker  with  the  top  sloped  so  that  nothing  will  remain  on  it. 

This  style  of  locker  is  advocated,  as  its  top  cannot  be  used  as 
indicated  in  the  preceding  illustration.  It  is  well  to  bear  this 
stvler  in  mind  when  ordering  lockers. 


57 


Another  illustration  of  the  danger  of  leaning  draw  bars  and 
clinker  bars  against  walls.  Placed  in  position  as  shown,  there  is 
likelihood  of  the  bars  falling  and  striking  a  person  on  the  head. 

This  hazard,  is,  of  course,  easily  remedied  by  placing  such 
tools  on  the  ground  beside  the  walls,  or  between  guide  bars 
placed  sufficiently  high  to  avoid  catching  a  passing  employe. 


58 


Subway  hangers  stored  by  being  suspended  on  weak  nails  over 
an  open  passageway. 

Light  nails  are,  at  best,  only  insecure  hangers,  and  where  it  is 
necessary  to  store  articles  overhead,  screws,  preferably  screw 
hooks,  of  sufficient  strength  to  support  adequately  the  material 
should  be  used.  Of  course,  material  should  not  be  stored  over 
a  passageway  as  shown. 


59 


An  unguarded  circular  saw,  and  an  operator  who  did  not 
appreciate  the  danger. 

The  hazard  of  unguarded  circular  saws  is  an  old  one,  but  it  is 
brought  to  mind  by  an  account  of  a  case  in  which  the  operator, 
stunned  by  the  saw  cutting  off  an  arm,  in  endeavoring  to  push 
himself  away,  caused  his  other  arm  to  be  likewise  severed,  and 
almost  expired  before  aid  arrived.  It  would  scarcely  be  possible 
to  give  a  clearer  illustration  of  the  danger  attending  the  use  of 
unguarded  circular  saws. 


60 


A  well-guarded  circular  saw. 

Experience  with  this  particular  type  of  guard  has  been  very 
satisfactory. 


61 


Here  is  seen  a  picture  of  a  shovel,  a  rake  and  an  oil  can, 
grouped  for  the  purpose. 

The  shovel  lies  as  shovels  are  frequently  found  on  floors, — in 
position  to  do  serious  injury.  It  may  readily  be  appreciated  how 
an  employe  running  or  walking  carelessly  might  run  directly  into 
the  broad  edge  of  a  shovel,  which  is  at  times  as  sharp  as  a  knife. 

The  rake  introduces  a  liability  of  the  teeth  running  into  an 
employe's  foot.  In  one  case,  an  employe,  who  was  a  little  more 
fortunate  than  the  average,  in  wearing  shoes  with  heavy  soles, 
stepped  on  the  teeth  of  a  rake,  with  the  result  that  the  handle 
flew  up,  and  delivered  an  impression  on  his  face  that  stayed  with 
him  for  a  week.  (It  is  to  be  hoped  the  disappearance  of  the 
swelling  did  not  carry  with  it  the  memory  of  its  cause.) 

Of  course,  oil  cans  should  be  kept  off  floors  and  passageways 
whenever  practicable,  a  fall  on  the  point  of  a  can  of  this  type 
being  quite  a  serious  matter. 


62 


An  unguarded  emery  wheel.  It  is  dangerous  from  all  points 
of  view,  as,  in  addition  to  the  lack  of  wheel  and  eye  guards, 
there  is  no  rest  on  which  to  place  tools  while  being  ground. 
Also,  the  starting  switch  should  be  covered  to  protect  a  workman 
from  danger  of  shock. 


63 


An  emery  wheel  so  guarded  by  an  adjustable  glass  plate  as  to 
intercept  flying  emery,  and  thus  avoid  eye  injuries. 

The  iron  wheel  guard  or  hood,  designed  to  protect  workmen 
should  the  wheel  burst,  will  also  be  noted. 

In  addition  the  use  of  goggles  is  recommended.  Reports  of 
the  number  of  injuries  prevented  by  goggles  are  so  numerous 
that  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  their  value. 


64 


Loose  bricks  found  directly  over  a  doorway.  They  may  be 
seen  at  the  base  of  the  arched  opening.  In  one  case,  a  brick 
faUing  from  a  similar  location  caused  permanent  injuries. 

Thorough  inspection,  of  course,  obviates  this  hazard. 


65 


A  particularly  dangerous  steam  line  outlet  in  front  of  a  boiler. 
The  outlet  was  about  five  feet  above  the  floor  and  so  placed  that, 
should  the  valve  be  turned  on,  the  escaping  steam  or  hot  water 
might  scald  a  w^orkman. 

Outlets  of  this  sort  should  discharge  vertically. 


66 


A  condition  found  in  a  works  yard.  The  old  nails  projecting 
from  the  discarded  boards  can  easily  be  seen.  These  boards  lay 
in  a  pathway  between  buildings,  and  it  seemed  to  be  no  one's 
business  to  remove  them.  As  usual,  most  of  the  boards  appeared 
to  have  fallen  with  the  nails  up. 

Injuries  due  to  stepping  on  nails  are  always  accompanied  by 
liability  of  tetanus,  or  lock-jaw.  It  is  clearly  an  easy  matter  to 
eliminate  this  hazard,  so  serious  in  its  results.  In  one  of  many 
prominent  cases,  blood  poisoning  resulted  fatally  to  a  workman 
after  he  had  sustained  only  a  slight  puncture  wound  from  a 
rusty  nail. 


67 


Picture  taken  to  illustrate  the  danger  accompanying  unboxed 
elevator  counterweights.  The  valve  was  so  located  on  the 
pump  that  the  head  of  the  workman  adjusting  it  was  brought 
directly  under  the  counterweight  and  struck. 

In  a  similar  case  a  workman,  stooping  to  adjust  a  steam  drip, 
placed  his  hand  beneath  the  descending  counterweight.  Another 
workman  started  the  elevator,  with  the  result  that  the  counter- 
weight so  severely  crushed  the  hand  that  he  finally  lost  it,  and 
also  part  of  his  arm. 


68 


View  of  the  same  location,  with  a  wire  guard  so  placed  that 
there  is  no  danger  of  a  workman  being  caught  by  the  counter- 
weights. 

Another  excellent  illustration  of  how  satisfactory  guards  may 
be  made  at  home  at  very  little  cost. 


69 


A  manhole  cover  constituting  a  common  tripping  hazard. 
The  tripping  hazard,  however,  is  not  the  only  one.  Owing  to  the 
size  of  the  ring,  the  foot  of  an  employe  walking  along,  particu- 
larly at  night,  might  become  wedged  in  the  ring  and  broken. 
The  cover  is  just  at  the  entrance  to  a  building. 

The  ring,  of  course,  should  be  countersunk  so  as  to  drop  level 
with  the  cover. 


70 


Wheelbarrows  so  stored  that  the  handles  may  strike  a  passing 
employe  in  the  groin.     It  merel}^  suggests  more  careful  storage. 


71 


Tank  used  for  collecting  drip  oil,  etc.,  with  a  nipple  and  ell 
projecting  from  the  end.  A  workman  while  passing  from  the 
boiler-room  to  the  paint-house  at  night,  caught  his  foot  under 
this  pipe  and  fall  across  the  tank.  In  falling,  his  lantern  was 
broken  and  the  flame  ignited  vapor  which  was  issuing  from  the 
tank.  Before  the  workman  could  get  up  and  away,  he  was 
burned, — a  most  peculiar  accident. 

The  hazard  was  eliminated  by  a  railing. 


72 


Where  passenger  elevator  gates  are  of  the  automatic  fast- 
closing  type,  as  above  indicated,  in  the  absence  of  something 
to  prevent  the  gates  from  closing  entirely,  the  operator's  fin- 
gers are  liable  to  be  crushed  between  them.  As  shown  in 
this  picture,  small  pieces  of  rubber  have  been  inserted  to  prevent 
such  an  accident  and  it  is  the  opinion  of  the  operators  of  a 
number  of  elevators  on  which  these  pads  have  been  installed, 
that  to  them  they  owe  freedom  from  injury.  Doubtless  many 
will  recall  having  seen  elevator  operators  carelessly  handling 
automatic  gates  without  any  device  to  prevent  accidents 
of  this  sort. 


73 


A  movable  platform  which  avoids  the  danger  attending 
the  use  of  ordinary  stepladders  by  employes  working  on  bus 
transformers.  The  platform  shown  is  about  six  feet  high  and 
large  enough  to  permit  access  to  a  number  of  boxes  without 
shifting. 

The  saving  in  time  alone,  not  counting  the  increased  safet^^ 
favors  the  adoption  of  this  style  of  platform. 


74 


Elevator  shaft;  operator  on  platform.  It  has  been  difficult 
to  keep  ledges  in  elevator  shafts  so  clear  as  to  avoid  the  liability 
of  tools  or  materials  falling  therein.  This  illustration  shows 
pieces  of  coal,  and  a  wrench,  left  in  position  to  do  serious  harm 
in  falling. 

The  remedy  is,  of  course,  regular  inspection  to  see  that  nothing 
is  left  where  liable  to  fall  into  shafts.  The  installation  of  sloping 
boards  on  ledges  is  suggested,  to  prevent  objects  remaining 
thereon. 


75 


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^^■:            i 

^ 

Here  attention  is  directed  to  a  common  condition.  In  this 
case,  in  which  the  folding  gate  swings  out  over  a  public  footwa}^ 
there  is  the  danger  of  striking  a  passerby.  With  the  force  of  a 
high  wind  back  of  it,  a  gate  swung  out  in  this  manner  makes 
liable  a  serious  accident. 

Changing  gates  of  this  type  to  swing  in  or  slide  eliminates 
the  hazard. 


76 


Another  illustration  of  gates  swinging  outward  over  a  footway 
used  by  children  in  going  to  and  from  school. 


77 


This  illustration  shows  precautions  taken  to  prevent  injury 
to  pedestrians  due  to  vehicles  entering  and  leaving  a  station  yard. 

At  night  the  gate  (sliding)  is  kept  closed,- and  the  danger  sign 
illuminated. 


78 


i^__^m 

p        ;t,.**i^ii 

An  exhaust  pipe  projecting  through  a  window  in  an  engine- 
room  out  into  a  passageway.  The  danger  of  being  scalded  by 
steam  or  hot  water  ejected  from  this  pipe  was  made  all  the  more 
serious  by  the  fact  that  the  engine  was  run  intermittently. 

In  an  instance  in  which  an  exhaust  pipe  was  placed  somewhat 
lower  than  the  one  shown  here,  a  boy's  leg  was  scalded  by  steam 
spurting  out  just  as  he  was  passing  by. 

The  remedy  is,  of  course,  to  run  the  pipe  into  a  well  or  to 
exhaust  vertically. 


79 


An  ordinary  telegraph  and  lighting  pole,  to  which  permanent 
steps  have  been  so  fastened  that  it  is  a  comparatively  easy 
matter  for  a  boy  to  climb  them  as  shown.  In  one  case,  a  boy 
climbed  a  pole  similarly  stepped,  and  was  electrocuted. 

Sockets  into  which  spikes  or  bolts  may  be  inserted  by  the 
linemen  in  the  exercise  of  their  duty,  may  be  used  in  place  of 
steps  up  to  a  height  of  about  eight  feet  above  the  ground, 
where  permanent  steps  or  spikes  begin. 


80 


Sash  weights,  counterbalancing  sHding  windows,  hung  directly 
over  the  windows  and  table.  In  this  particular  instance,  one  of 
the  ropes  carrying  a  weight  was  found  to  be  so  insecurely  fastened 
jthat  it  was  a  matter  of  surprise  that  it  had  not  dropped  and 
injured  some  one.     The  windows  and  table  are  in  constant  use. 

Windows  of  this  type  have  been  found  in  shops  in  widely 
separated  localities.     Boxing  the  weights  was  recommended. 


81 


Showing  how  a  guard  or  precaution  no  longer  useful  may 
deteriorate  into  a  hazard  even  greater  than  the  one  it  was 
originally  intended  to  guard. 

In  this  case,  pieces  of  pipe  were  driven  into  the  ground  to  keep 
in  position  rails  placed  between  them.  There  is  only  one  rail 
left  and  that  liable  to  be  used  at  any  time,  leaving  the  pieces  of 
pipe  in  position  to  trip  a  workman  not  on  the  lookout  for 
danger  points. 

The  remedy  of  course  is  promptly  to  remove  all  supports 
no  longer  needed. 


82 


In  many  plants,  railroad  tracks  running  through  the  yard 
are  located  close  to  buildings.  Doorways  are  often  found  near 
the  track,  and  there  is  then  danger  of  an  employe  coming  out 
of  the  building  being  struck  by  a  train  of  shifting  cars. 

To  prevent  accidents  from  this  source,  fences  have  been  so 
placed  on  either  side  of  the  track  shown,  that  employes,  to  get 
across,  have  to  walk  out  further  from  the  buildings.  This  gives 
them  an  unobstructed  view  of  the  track  for  some  distance,  and 
an  opportunity  to  avoid  being  struck  by  the  train. 


83 


Band  saw  not  fully  guarded.  While  there  is  a  plate  running 
from  in  front  of  the  machine  up  over  the  upper  wheel,  there  is 
nothing  to  prevent  the  saw,  should  it  break,  from  flying  out  below 
the  lowest  point  of  the  guard  and  injuring  an  employe.  That 
part  of  the  saw  exposed  to  the  greatest  danger  of  breaking  is 
immediately  above  the  work,  and  it  is  a  comparatively  simple 
matter  to  fit  a  piece  of  channel  iron,  attached  to  the  frame, 
directly  over  the  saw  in  such  a  manner  as  to  cover  it  almost 
completely  and  still  not  interfere  with  the  work. 

A  similar  piece  may  be  fitted  to  the  back,  so  that  in  shifting 
work  there  will  be  no  danger  of  striking  the  running  saw  and 
knocking  it  ofi^  the  wheels. 

84 


Before  the  fan  guard  was  Installed,  there  was  danger  of  a 
person  standing  on  the  ladder  losing  his  balance,  and  in  attempt- 
ing to  save  himself,  thrusting  his  arm  into  the  fan  blades,  with 
the  possibility  of  thereby  losing  that  member. 

Since  the  guard  has  been  installed,  the  switchboard  box  at 
the  right  has  also  been  covered  to  protect  employes  against  the 
danger  of  a  short  circuit. 

Although  these  two  hazards  have  been  noted  and  taken  care 
of,  the  danger  presented  by  storing  glassware  on  open  shelves 
without  risers  has  been  overlooked. 


85 


An  automatic  safety  gate  on  a  generator-house  elevator.  In 
the  background  will  be  noted  a  signal  arm  worked  from  the  floor 
below  to  give  notice  to  men  on  the  second  floor  that  the  elevator 
on  the  first  floor  is  not  yet  clear. 

The  signal  board  on  the  gate  reads  as  follows: 

Do  not  start  elevator  up  until  signal  arm  drops. 

It  is  claimed  that  this  simple  little  device  quickly  paid  for 
itself  in  preventing  injuries  to  employes. 


86 


Another  view  of  an  elevator  in  a  generator  house.  As  shown, 
when  the  elevator  is  at  the  floor  level,  the  safety  gate  is  at  such  a 
height  that  the  bottom  rail  clears  the  heads  of  employes  using 
the  elevator.  Also,  sheet  iron  has  been  attached  to  the  sides  to 
prevent  pieces  of  fuel  or  other  objects  falling  on  employes  below. 


The  latch  on  the  side  of  the  generator  Ud  seen  here,  engages 
when  the  lid  is  dropped,  and  the  tightening  of  the  center  bar 
forces  the  lid  down,  and  makes  it  gas  tight. 

In  one  instance,  workmen  swung  a  coke  barrow  around  too 
quickly  and  struck  the  projection  on  the  latch  in  such  a  manner 
that  it  became  loosened.  The  lid  immediately  blew  open  and 
caused  burns  that  resulted  in  permanent  injuries  and  death. 


88- 


Generator  lid,  used   to   prevent  a   recurrence  of  the  accident 
mentioned  on  the  preceding  page. 


89 


-4  a         •♦■ 


*A 


Reproduction  of  a  paperweight  designed  to  keep  prevention 
constantly  before  employes.  This  reminder  has  been  widely 
distributed  around  shops  and  plants. 


90 


A  self-explanatory  blue-and-white  enamel  sign. 
Displayed  in  places  most  frequented  by  employes,  these  signs 
have  elicited  a  number  of  interesting  suggestions. 


91 


The  question  of  ventilating  boiler-rooms  is  a  difficult  one  at 
best,  owing  to  the  nature  of  the  work.  These  rooms  frequently 
have  large  sliding  doors  which  are  usually  kept  open  and  conse- 
quently invite  passage.  At  times,  in  the  centre  of  the  threshold 
a  channel  iron  guide  is  found  as  shown.  The  guide  shown  is 
unnecessarily  high  and  forms  an  ugly  trip  hazard. 


92 


/ 

e 
e 

i 


POOI2-^VIDEl 


•THE  -VKlTEr  •  aAQ  •  MPEfVIME-NT  •  C CO 

•  PHlX.ADEl.f>Hlfl 


I  •i-St'.w    0.    Sto*.    6ol* 


5tt  on    V/oo.<1 


These  door  guides  are  not  always  necessary,  but  where  they 
are  needed,  the  improvement  shown  by  the  above  illustration  is 
suggested.     The  curves  make  tripping  practically  impossible. 


93 


Gas  drip  box  projecting  from  sidewalk.  Where  the  street  is 
used  by  many  people,  especially  school  children,  the  hazard  pre- 
sented by  projecting  drip,  stop  and  curb  boxes  becomes 
serious.  In  several  cases  severe  injuries  and  verdicts  have 
followed  this  condition. 

These  boxes  should,  of  course,  be  at  the  level  of  the  walk. 


94 


An  illustration  of  an  almost  inconceivable  accident  wherein  the 
injuries  were  clearly  due  to  stupidity.  The  employe  held  on  to 
the  rope  operating  the  elevator  gate,  and  his  hand  followed  the 
rope  into  the  sheave  wheel  as  the  elevator  descended,  with  a 
resultant  loss  of  his  fingers. 

These  wheels  are  now  fool-proof,  plates  having  been  fastened 
in  front  as  indicated  by  dotted  line,  to  disengage  an  employe's 
hand  under  similar  circumstances. 


95 


Safety  Always 
Help  to  Prevent  Accidents 

Every  Effort  towards  Safety  Helps 

Are  You  Guarding  the  Danger  Points? 
Carelessness  is  Dangerous 

Safety  Preserves  Life  and  Happiness 

Safety  First,  Last  and  All  the  Time 

Illustrations  of  rubber  stamps  used  on  letters  and  pay  en- 
velopes to  keep  the  subject  of  safety  uppermost.  The  wording 
is  changed  from  time  to  time  to  prevent  monotony. 


96 


Accidents  Having  Occurred  to  Men  at  Work  in 

Boilers,  the  Following  Precautions  to  Insure 

Their  Safety  are  Taken: — 

Before  entering  the  boiler,  the  workman  notifies  the 
man  in  charge  of  the  boiler-room,  who  must  see  that  the 
main  steam  valve,  both  blow-off  valves,  blow-off  cock, 
feed-water  valve,  and  all  other  valves  connected  with 
the  boiler  are  shut  tight. 

After  all  the  valves  are  closed  tight,  the  boiler  dis- 
connected from  the  blow-off  header  and  the  plug 
removed  from  the  feed-water  pipe,  the  man  in  charge 
of  the  boiler-room  sees  that  warning  cards  reading  as 
follows  are  hung  from  all  of  the  valves  on  the  discon- 
nected boiler: — 


MEN 
AT  WORK 
IN  BOILER. 
DO  NOT 

OPEN 
VALVES. 


Only  after  these  precautions  have  been  taken  does 
the  man  in  charge  of  the  boiler-room  permit  a  work- 
man to  enter  a  boiler. 

The  warning  cards  are  not  to  be  removed  nor  any 
valves  opened  until  the  work  has  been  done,  the  work- 
men have  left  the  boiler,  have  replaced  all  covers  for 
handholes  and  manholes,  and  have  all  reported  to  the 
man  in  charge  of  the  boiler-room. 

9/ 


An  analysis  of  over  2000  miscellaneous  accidents  to  employes 
shows  them  to  have  been  due  to  the  following: 

Causes  of  Accidents 


Falling  objects       ..... 

Flying  objects,  cinders,  dust,  slashing 
solder,  etc.        ..... 

Protruding  objects  or  materials     . 

Hanging  or  swinging  objects  or  materials 

Stepping  on  or  being  caught  by  project- 
ing nails,  broken  glass,  etc. 

Machinery  in  normal  operation 

Defects,  or  lack  of  guards,  on  machinery 

Elevators,  hoisting  apparatus,  etc.     . 

Handling  materials 

Slipping,  tripping  or  faUing 

Electric  shock 

Falling  in  or  through  openings  . 

Hand  tools  used  by  injured 

Tools  used  by  fe  low  employes   . 

Hot  objects  or  materials 

Leaking  gas,  sickness,  etc.    . 

Mis:cellaneous    .        .        .        .        . 


NUMBER 

PERCENTAGE 

113 

5.1% 

138 

6.3% 

250 

n.4% 

s      39 

1.8% 

138 

6.3% 

126 

5.7% 

10 

.    .5% 

33 

1.5% 

276 

12.5% 

282 

12.8% 

12 

.5% 

4 

.2  /c 

322 

14.6% 

26 

1.2% 

186 

8.5% 

80 

3.6% 

165 

7.5% 

2200 

100.0% 

58 


The  injuries  resulting  from  these  accidents  were  as  follows: 


Effects  of  Accidents 


Fractures  or  sprains  of 

Arms,  hands  or  fingers 

Legs,  feet  or  toes 

Bones  of  body  and  head 
Eye  injuries  or  strain   . 
Lacerations  or  contusions 

Head       .... 

Face    .... 

Body       .... 

Arms  .... 

Hands     .        .        .        . 

Fingers 

Legs        .... 

Feet    .... 

Toes        .... 

General      .        .        . 
Strains  or  ruptures    . 
Illness      .... 
Burns  of 

Body       .... 

Face    .        . 

Limbs     .... 


NUMBER 

PERCENTAGE 

58 

2.6% 

32 

1.5% 

26 

1.2% 

180 

8.2% 

64 

2.9% 

59 

2.7% 

66 

3.0% 

69 

3.1% 

273 

12.4% 

638 

29.0% 

144 

6.5% 

150 

6.8% 

25 

1.1% 

66 

3.0% 

63 

2.9% 

80 

3.6% 

20 

.9% 

25 

1.2% 

162 

7.4% 

2200 

100.0% 

99 


In  737  cases,  at  least  one  day's  time  was  lost.  The 
total  time  lost  was  4602  days,  or,  on  the  basis  of  300 
working  days,  nearly  16  years.  The  average  loss  of 
time  in  cases  where  at  least  one  day's  time  was  lost  was 
6^  days,  practically  a  working  week. 

Of  the  entire  number  of  accidents,  2200,  about 
65%  resulted  in  a  loss  of  time  that  amounted  only  to 
that  necessary  for  the  proper  medical  attention.  On 
the  other  hand,  in  many  cases  the  employe  was 
assigned  to  other  work  not  necessitating  the  use  of 
the  injured  member.  However,  in  all  cases,  the  suffer- 
ing, inconvenience  and  interference  with  the  regular 
line  of  work  were  so  great,  and  so  many  of  the  accidents 
could  have  been  avoided  by  the  slightest  of  precautions, 
that  these  figures  furnish  a  powerful  argument  in  favor 
of  the  value  of  care. 

In  numerous  instances,  the  prompt  and  efficient 
administration  of  first-aid  treatment  alleviated  the 
pain  and  suffering  to  such  an  extent  that  the  time  lost 
was  almost  negligible,  but  in  all  minor  injuries,  the 
danger  of  infection  through  lack  of  attention  to  the 
wounds  is  so  great  that  no  one  can  afford  to  take  chances. 


100 


The  following  poem,  appropriated  from  the  Travelers 
Standard  and  slightly  modified,  so  well  champions 
Prevention  rather  than  First  Aid  and  Compensation, 
that  it  is  herein  reproduced  in  full: 


101 


The  Parable  of  the  Dangerous  Cliff 

'Twas  a  dangerous  cliff,  as  they  freely  confessed, 

Though  to  walk  near  its  crest  was  so  pleasant, 
But  over  its  terrible  edge  there  had  slipped 

A  duke,  and  full  many  a  peasant. 
The  people  said  something  would  have  to  be  done. 

But  their  projects  did  not  at  all  tally. 
Some  said,  "Put  a  fence  round  the  edge  of  the  cliff"; 

And  others,  "An  ambulance  down  in  the  valley." 

The  lament  of  the  crowd  was  profound  and  was  loud. 

As  their  hearts  overflowed  with  their  pity; 
But  the  cry  for  the  ambulance  carried  the  day 

As  it  spread  through  the  neighboring  city. 
A  collection  was  made,  to  accumulate  aid. 

And  the  dwellers  in  highway  and  valley 
Gave  dollars  or  cents, — not  to  furnish  a  fence, — 

But  an  ambulance  down  in  the  valley. 

"For  the  cliff  is  all  right  if  you're  careful,"  they  said. 

"And  if  folks  ever  slip  and  are  dropping. 
It  isn't  the  slipping  that  hurts  them  so  much, 

As  the  shock  down  below — when  they're  stopping." 
So  for  years  (we  have  heard),  as  these  mishaps  occurred, 

Quick  forth  would  the  rescuers  sally. 
To  pick  up  the  victims  who  fell  from  the  cliff. 

With  the  ambulance  down  in  the  valley. 


102 


Said  one,  in  his  plea,  "It's  a  marvel  to  me 

That  you'd  give  so  much  greater  attention 
To  repairing  results  than  to  curing  the  cause; 

You  had  much  better  aim  at  prevention. 
For  the  mischief,  of  course,  should  be  stopped  at  its  source 

Come,  neighbors  and  friends,  let  us  rally. 
It  is  far  better  sense  to  rely  on  a  fence 

Than  an  ambulance  down  in  the  valley." 

'*He  is  wrong  in  the  head,"  the  majority  said; 

"He  would  end  all  our  earnest  endeavor. 
He's  a  man  who  would  shirk  this  responsible  work. 

But  we  will  support  it  forever. 
Aren't  we  picking  up  all,  just  as  fast  as  they  fall. 

And  giving  them  care  liberally? 
A  superfluous  fence  is  of  no  consequence, 

If  the  ambulance  works  in  the  valle}^." 

The  story  looks  queer  as  we've  written  it  here. 

But  things  oft  occur  that  are  stranger. 
More  humane,  we  assert,  than  to  succor  the  hurt. 

Is  the  plan  of  removing  the  danger. 
The  U.  G.  I.  plan  is  to  safeguard  the  man, 

And  attend  to  the  thing  rationally; 
For  we  build  up  the  fence  and  we  try  to  dispense 

With  the  ambulance  down  in  the  valley. 


103 


Accident  Prevention  Means 

THE  avoidance  of 
U  ntold  misery,  with 
G  reater  efficiency  and 
I  nsured  saving,  promoting 

GO  -operation. 


An  acrostic  printed  on  blotters  which  find  their  way  to  desks 
of  shop  and  works  employes. 


104 


Although  accidents  may  be  prevented  to  a  large  degree  by  the 
exercise  of  care,  should  an  accident  occur,  the  continuance  of 
care  by  properly  looking  after  the  injuries  is  essential.  Wounds 
insignificant  in  their  inception  at  times  develop  into  cases  of 
permanent  disability. 


105 


Standard  First  Aid  Equipment  designed  and  used  by 
The  United  Gas  Improvement  Company 


General  First  Aid  Cabinet,  with  various  preparations,  utensils 
and  appliances  ready  for  use.  Made  of  polished  chestnut  and 
weighs  about  45  pounds. 

It  will  be  noted  that  the  door  forms  a  firm  stand  or  table  for 
the  operator. 


106 


Gas  Kit 

For  the  treatment  of  persons  affected  by  gas.  Compactly 
constructed  of  sheet  metal,  reinforced  and  painted  red. 
Weighs  about  six  pounds  complete,  and  is  designed  to  be  carried 
in  service  and  tool  carts. 


Pocket  Kit 

For  the„treatment  of  persons  affected  by  gas,  carried  by  com- 
plaint and  order  men  on  leak  work.  Made  of  heavy  flexible 
black  leather,  and  weighs  two  pounds. 

107 


Electric  Kit 

For  the  treatment  of  persons  shocked  by  electricity.  Of  the 
same  construction  as  the  gas  kit  and  painted  yellow.  Weighs 
about  seven  pounds,  complete. 


108 


Illustration  of  First  Aid  publications,  the  titles  of  the  books 
being  self-explanatory. 

Cardboard  charts,  measuring  21''  x  24''  and  15"  x  24"  respect- 
ively, comprising  the  instructions  and  illustrations  contained  in 
the  gas  and  electric  booklets,  are  displayed  around  shops  and  works. 


109 


Draeger  Pulmotor  in  Operation. 


A  constantly  increasing  number  of  persons  owe  their  lives  to 
the  use  of  this  apparatus,  which  has  been  remarkably  success- 
ful in  gas  and  electric  accidents,  as  well  as  in  other  cases 
involving  suspended  animation. 

The  Company  has  installed  Pulmotors  at  its  various  works. 


110 


ACCIDENT     PREVENTION 

SAVES 

MISERY    AND     MONEY 


111 


K 


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